A bit like buses, you wait for ages and then two come along together. Hot on the heels of last Sunday’s Bolton games day, this weekend sees the gaming action transferred to Chester. Here’s some info from John Roach:

I know that this is the weekend after the Bolton all-dayer but some of you may be interested in this gaming opportunity.

It is mainly a chance for the club’s wargamers to play some epic games but there will be a boardgaming presence and you are welcome to join us.

Deeside Defenders have secured the use of a hall at the Airbus factory in Broughton near Chester from Friday pm until Sunday evening. There is a cheap bar and food available. I am not aware of any entry fees but I will provide more details as I get them. In the meantime, it would be helpful if you are interested in coming along so we can ensure that we have sufficient tables available.

The next gaming event in the calendar is an all-day gaming session from the GNOME guys. Here’s the lowdown:

Gamers North of Manchester England (GNOME) are holding another of our famous and increasingly popular all-dayers on Sunday 18th September 2011 at St Mary’s Church Hall, Horwich. Access to the car park is from Richmond st (BL6 5QT for you Satnavvies). Doors open at 10:30AM11AM and we need to be out by 11PM.

As previously, we have the hall to ourselves and the bar is open from 12 Noon to 11PM. There are shops and takeaways within easy walk but we will be providing some light grub at around 6PM to keep you going.

Everyone is welcome of course, from newbies to old hands and including kids (so long as they are gamers and not run-around-and-knock-things-over-ers). Bring your own games or come and play ours. Over 70 gamers turned up last time (despite an emergency change of venues, promise it won’t happen again this time) and there is a genuinely friendly atmosphere.

Entry is Â£3 (Â£1 for under 16s) which includes free hotpot/soup at 6:00PM. There is no such thing as a free lunch, but consider this a free tea (or free dinner for any soft Southerners out there).

More information can be found on this BGG thread, including a list of expected attendees.

The good news is that Fragor Games have released details of the Lamont Brothers’ new game: Poseidon’s Kingdom. The bad news is that the limited run of 1,000 games is already sold out on pre-order after 11 days. There may be a few available for sale at Essen, depending on how many actually are delivered by the printers (their margins of error are +/-10% and Fragor stopped taking pre-orders at 900). However, unless you got in early, you’re likely to be disappointed. Here’s a description of the game:

Poseidon has lost his treasured trident. Your friends have disappeared while trying to find it. It turns out they have been captured by evil Hans the Kraken. Suckers ! The Kraken plans to make a nice stew out of them. Can you prise open his tentacles, release your friends and defeat him ? You had better hope so. Oh, its probably not a good time to mention the shark …

Now, the game has a number of interesting features but, to be fair to those that won’t be seeing a copy of the game, I’ve added an alternative description:

1. A wave which crashes dice onto the board, or a cheap cardboard gimic that adds nothing to the game2. Pieces (or THE FANTASTIC ANIMAL CREATURES ARE BACK !), although none of them are animals and sea creatures can’t be cute3. Engaging gameplay for both gamers and non-gamers or a design that tries to cater for both but satisfies neither.4. Possibly some of the worst “fishy” puns imaginable (we put them in for the halibut), or possibly some of the worst “fishy” puns imaginable (we put them in for the halibut).Â